Pronunciation: [kˈɒstɪvli] (IPA) 
Costively is a rarely used adverb that means constipatedly or in a constipated manner. The word is pronounced as /kɒstɪvli/ in IPA phonetic transcription, where the "o" represents the short "o" sound as in "pot," the "i" represents the short "i" sound as in "bit," and the "ve" produces a "v" sound followed by the schwa sound. The "-ly" suffix denotes an adverb, making costively an adverbial form of "costive," which means constipated.
Costively is an adjective used to describe something that is characterized by being slow or difficult to pass through the intestines or bowels. It is often used in the medical field or in discussions related to digestive health. The term originates from the word "constipated," which refers to the condition of having infrequent or difficult bowel movements.
When someone is suffering from constipation, it means that their stool is dry, hard, and compacted, making it challenging and painful to pass. The term costively is typically used to describe the condition of constipation itself or to attribute this characteristic to a particular substance or medication.
In medical contexts, costively is used to indicate that a medication or substance has the potential to cause constipation or worsen pre-existing constipation. For example, opioids are known to be costive and often require additional medication to counteract their constipating effects. Similarly, certain types of diets or lack of physical activity can also lead to being costive.
Overall, the term costively is utilized to describe the characteristic of being slow or difficult to pass through the digestive system, whether it refers to the overall condition of constipation or to substances that have the potential to cause constipation.
The word "costively" comes from the verb "costive", which is derived from the Latin word "costa" meaning "rib". In Latin, "costa" was used to refer to the ribs, but over time, it also came to represent the side of the body. The term was eventually adopted into Old French as "coste" meaning "side", and further evolved into Middle English as "coste" or "cost".
In medical terminology, "costive" specifically refers to digestive issues, particularly constipation or an excessive slowness of digestion, which was believed to be caused by an imbalance in the body's humors related to the side or rib area. Over time, the term "costive" extended beyond its medical context and became more widely used to describe anything that is slow, inactive, or sluggish.
